Ambo’s tears for shark victim

A PARAMEDIC has broken down describing the final moments of a man in his 20s who died in a shark attack on the NSW north coast on Sunday.

The man was surfing at Shelly Beach, near Emerald Beach, when his arm was mauled by a great white shark 20km north of Coffs Harbour about 11am on Sunday. NSW Department of Primary Industries

confirmed the shark was a great white after analysing photographs of the bite. Fellow surfers helped the man to shore, where a makeshift tourniquet was placed on his arm to slow the flow of blood, and CPR was performed until emergency services personnel arrived.

A critical care doctor was winched onto the beach from a Westpac helicopter and ambulance crews also attended.

Chris Wilson, a veteran paramedic with NSW Ambulance, broke down in tears while addressing media at the beach.

“Bystanders and paramedics were ... erm,” Mr Wilson said as he was overcome with emotion.

“It was devastating for everybody on the beach ... local surfers and bystanders came to the aid of this man, they were incredibly brave in a very challenging situation.”